SAD END OF A PET. 493 



fingers from that time every morning, for two or three weeks. Then we were to leave 



C for some time, and I sent him back to W , congratulating myself that I was 



yet heart-whole as far as Bobby was concerned. 



In about a month we returned and we called to see the birds ; what was my surprise 

 when Master Bullfinch instantly descended from his perch to the corner of the cage 

 nearest to my face, and after the first chirp of greeting commenced singing in a sweet 

 undertone, hovering and turning, his feathers lifted, his eye gleaming, and his whole 

 expression one of the most profound admiration for little me. I was quite heartless, only 

 shrugging my shoulders and turning away. 



But I do not know exactly how it came about ; in a few weeks I had the painted finch 

 and the Bullfinch quite domesticated in my room,, and though I still said I did not love 

 him, yet I talked a great deal to the bird, and as the little fellow grew more and more 

 cheerful and sang louder and oftener each day, and was getting so handsome, I found plenty 

 of reasons for increasing my attention to him, and then above all things he seemed to need 

 my presence quite as much as sunshine, for if I went away, if only to my breakfast, he 

 would utter the most piteous and incessant cries until I returned to him, when in a 

 breath his tones were changed and he sang his most enchanting airs. He made himself 

 most fascinating by his polite adoration, he never considered himself sufficiently well 

 dressed, he was most devoted in his efforts to enchain me by his melodies. Art and nature 

 both were called to his aid, until, finally, I could no longer refrain from expressing in no 

 measured terms my admiration. He was then satisfied, not to cease his attention, but 

 to take a step further ; he presented me with a straw, and even with increased appearance 

 of adulation. 



From that time he claimed me wholly ; no one else could approach the cage ; he would 

 fight most desperately if any one dared to approach, and if they laid a finger on me 

 his fury was unbounded, he would dash himself against the bars of his cage, and bite the 

 wires as if he would obtain his liberty at all hazards, and thus be enabled to punish the 

 offender. 



If I went away now he would first mourn, then endeavour to win me back by sweet 

 songs. In the morning I was awakened by his cries, and if I but moved my hand, his 

 moans were changed to glad greetings. If I sat too quietly at my drawing, he would 

 become weary seemingly, and call me to him ; if I would not come, he would say in gentle 

 tone, ' Come here ! come here ! ' so distinctly that all my friends recognised the meaning 

 of the accents at once, and then he would sing to me. All the day he would watch me ; 

 if I was cheerful, he sang and was so gay ; if I was sad, he would sit by the hour watching 

 every movement, and if I arose from my seat I was called, ' Come-e-here ;' and whenever 

 he could manage it, if the wind blew my hair within his cage he would cut it off, calling 

 me to help him, as if he thought I had no right to wear anything else than feathers, and 

 if I would have hair it was only suitable to nest-building ! If I let him fly about the 

 room with the painted finch, he would follow so close on my footsteps that I was in 

 constant terror that he would be stepped upon or lost in following me from the room. At 

 last he came to the -conclusion that I could not build a nest; I never seemed to understand 

 what to do with the nice materials he gave me, and when I offered to return them, he 

 threw his body to one side and looked at me so drolly from one eye that I was quite 

 abashed. From that time he seemed to think I must be a very young creature, and more 

 assiduously fed me at stated periods during the day, throwing up from his own stomach the 

 half-digested food for my benefit, precisely in the manner of feeding young birds. 



But I did not like this sort of relationship very much, and determined to keep 

 it down, and forthwith commenced by coldly refusing to be fed, and as fast as I could 

 bring my hard heart to do it, breaking down all the gentle bonds between us. 



The result was sad enough ; the poor fellow could not bear it. He sat in wondering 

 grief ; he would not eat. At night I took him in my hand and held him to my cheek ; he 

 nestled closely and seemed more happy, although his little heart was too full to let him 

 speak. In the morning I scarcely answered his tender low call, ' Come-e-here !' but I sat 

 down to my drawing, thinking if I could be so cold much longer to so gentle and uncom- 

 plaining a creature. 



